Terminal lug.



H. J. WIEGAND.

TERMINAL LUG.

APPLICATION FILED IUIIE 29, 1910.

Patented July 15, 1913.

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UNITED STATES PATENT onnion.

HENRY. .I. WIEGAND, or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, Ass'IeNoR 'ro Inn CUTLER- nammnn mm. 00., or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION or WIS- CONSIN.

TERMINAL LUG.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 15, 1913 Application filed June 29, 1919. Serial No. 569,557.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRIe-J. WIEGAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Terminal Lugs, of

which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvementsin terminal lugs for electrical conductors and more particularly to those formed of sheet metal. v

One object of my invention is to provide a sheet metal terminal lug capable of carrying heavy currents and yet so constructed as to enable the same to be easily and conveniently attached to electrical conductors.

Various other objects and advantages of my invention will hereinafter be clearly and fully set forth. 1 7

According to the preferred form of my invention, I form the terminal lug of a single piece of sheet metal so folded, or bent upon itself as to form a body portion of a plurality of thicknesses of the materlal, and lugs of a single thickness of mater1al for clamping onto the conductor to which it.1s to be attached.

In order to more clearly and fully disclose the nature and advantages of my invention, I shall describe the device illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which embodies my invention in its preferredform.

Myinvention, however, is not limited to the specific structure illustrated, but 1s capable of various modifications,

In the accompanyin drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view 0 the termlnal devlce connected to an electrical conductor. Fi 2 is a perspective of the terminal lug be ore attachment to the conductor, and Fig. 3 is a plan of the blank from which the terminal lug is formed. a

The formation of the terminallug will be best understood by reference to Figs. 2 and 8 which will be hereinafter described. One

end of'the main portion 4 is provided with an extenslon 6 of less width than said main portion, which extension is provided substantially midway of its extremities with a laterally extending lug 7. At its opposite end, the main or body portion 4 is provided with an extension 8 similar to the extension 6, but preferably slightly longer than the same for the purpose hereinafter described. At its outer end the extension 8 is provided with similar laterally extending lugs 9 projecting in opposite directions and preferably in alineme'nt. The extension 8 is also provided intermediate of its extremities with another laterally extending lug 10. The lugs 7 and 10 are preferably arranged at different distances from the main or body portion 4, and upon opposite sides thereof, the difference in distance preferably being at least equal to the width of one of said lugs for a purpose hereinafter set forth. As will be hereinafter described, the lugs 7, 9 and '10 form the means for securing the terminal to a conductor, and, hence, the design and' dimensions thereof should be governed more, or less, by the type and size of conductors for which they are intended to be employed. In determining the size of the main body portion 4, regard should be had to the amount of current which it is desired to have the terminal carry. A blank, such as that illustrated and described, may readily be formed of a single piece of sheet metal of any desired thickness and may be readily stamped, or punched at a single operation.

To produce the device illustrated in Fig. 2 it is only necessary to bend the body portion of the blank upon a transverse line equidistaut from the extremities thereof, and then bend the lugs 7, 9 and 10 substantially perpendicular thereto. Bending the body portion 4, in the manner just described, will make the body portion double the thickness of the sheet metal employed, thereby producing a body capable of carrying a much higher current than a terminal formed of a single thickness of the same material. When the body portion is folded upon itself, as described, the openings 5 therein will be broughtinto alinement, thereby producing one continuous opening through the two thicknesses of the body portion for the reception of a binding post, or the like. In forming the device, illustrated In F g. 2, I prefer [to bend the lugs 7, 9 and 1.0, in such a direction that the longer extension8 of the main body portion will be on the outside. At'the same time that the lugs are bent up-. wardly, the overlapping extension and 8 may be curved transversely to a slightde: gree, if desired. The bending and formation of; the blank in the form illustrated in Fig. 2, is a very simple 0 eration, and one which can be quickly per ormed. The manner of attachingthe terminal in to an' electrical conductor is clearly illustrated -in Fig. 1. 'Referring to Fig. 1, I have shown an electrical conductor compris ing a wire.12 having'a suitable insulating covering 13, the insulating covering on the extremity of the wire being removed to permit of the attachment of the terminal lug. To attach the terminal lug, it is only necessary to lay the bare wire against the extension 6, then bend the lugs 7 and 10 over the wire in opposite directions, and then bend the extensions 9 over the extremity of the insulating covering. By spacing the lugs 7 and 10 and arranging the same on opposite sides of the terminal in the manner previously set forth, it will be seen that the same will clamp the Wire from opposite sides and both may be firmly pressed intoengage' ment with the wire. lhe lugs 9 being bent around the insulating covering form an additional clamp for the terminal lug, and at the same time reinforce the unprotected extremity of the insulating covering. Furthermore, by terminating the extension 6'in the manner illustrated, compensation is made for theinsulating covering which allows the lugs 9 to be forced into close engagement with the insulating covering all the way around the same. The lugs 7, 9 and 10 being of a single thickness of material may be readily bent around the, conductor and in close engagement therewith. This not only insures a good electrical connection between the conductor and the terminal lug, but also facilitates soldering of the two together. A lug, such as that illustrated, may be readily soldered with an ordinary soldering iron, whereas a blow torch is required where the lugs are formed of heavier material.

It will thus be seen that in accordance with my invention I am enabled to secure a lug with a very substantial body, or in other words, with a large mass of conductive material, at the points where the same is most needed, and relatively thin and pliable lugs for attachment to the conductor all formed of a single piece of metal.

Obviously, various changes could be made in the design and dimensions of the blank and in the relative arrangement of the at taching lugs without departing from the noevnoa scope of my invention,.and I, therefore, desire to have it understood that my invention is not limited to the particular device illustrated and described herein. It should also be understood that the main'conducting parts mi ht be made of more than two thicknesses,i desired.

Having thus descrlbed my invention,

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A terminal lug comprising a plurality conductor to make electrical connection therewith. v

2. A terminal lug comprising a plurality of layers of sheet metal, each layer having a lug for clamping onto and making electrical connection with a conductor, and one of said layers having a lug for clamping onto the insulating covering of the conductor.

3. A terminal lug comprising a plurality of layers of sheet metal, each layer having a lug for clamping onto and making electrical connection'with a conductor, and one of said layers having a lug for clamping onto the insulating covering of the conductor, said first mentioned lugs being arranged in a staggered relation and each substantially surrounding the conductor.

4. A terminal lug comprising a strip of sheet metal folded to form a duplex main portion having a lug to clamp onto an insulated conductor, and a lug on each layer thereof to clamp onto an exposed portion of the conductor.' 5.1% terminal lug comprising a strip of sheet metal folded to form a duplex main portion having a lug to clamp onto an insulated conductor and a lug on each layer thereof to clamp onto an exposed portion of the conductor, said second mentioned lugs being arranged in a staggered relation and each substantially surrounding the exposed portion of the conductor.

6. A terminal lug comprising a substantially oblong sheet metal blank provided at opposite ends with extensions of reduced width and with laterally extending lugs on said extensions, certain of said laterally extending lugs projecting in opposite directions, said blanks being adapted to be bent on a transverse line to cause the extensions thereof to overlap, and said laterally exfof layers of sheet metal each of said layers having a lug to clamp onto an electrical tending lugs being adapted to be bent sub" tors comprising a duplex metal strip having In witness whereof, I have hereunto subclips formed at one end thereof, said clips scribed my name in the presence of two bein co-axial and longitudinally adjacent, witnesses.

and lncluding a clip to engage the uninsu HENRY J. WIEGAND. 5 lated portion of the conductor and a clip Witnesses:

on each layer of metal to engage an ex- A. HALVERSON,

posed portion of the conductor. M. R. FENNO. 

